Deaerating apparatus



ins water circulating in and the like.

Patented Jan. 18, 1944 r UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE' I r nEAERA Tii G fiPlnkATfis I i Application November 1, 1941, Serial No. 417,519 (01. its-2.5)

12 Claims. This invention relates to apparatus for deaerat- In such systems the greatest corrosion is in the condensate return and feed water piping. Corrosive gases are evolved with the steam from the boiler water, these being oxygen and carbon dioxide. When the steam condenses, it becomes dissteam heating systems for the separation of thegases. This steam then is passed over cool water tubes for recondensing.

tilled water, and as the temperature of the condensate decreases its capacity; to dissolve gases increases and it becomes carbonic acid condensate which is corrosive.

v If oxygen is dissolved also. the acid condensate becomes regenerative and severe corrosion results. Oxygen is consumed in corrosion so that more oxygen inust'be' made available for severe corrosion to continue. Un-

less some means is provided for eliminating additional'oxygen the severe corrosion action becomes continuous. Oxygen enters the system as air leak age in the vacuum return line, as dissolved oxygen in make-up water, and may be dissolved from the air in open receivers. The oxygen made available-for boiler corrosion must enter with the feed water. i

' The capacity of condensate to dissolve oxygen increases with increase or the pressure or decrease in temperature or both. Therefore, to release oxygen from the condensate it is only necessary to reverse these actions; that is, to reduce the pressure or increase the temperature, or both. This causes the condensate to reach a boiling point which is the zero concentration or gases or The corrosive gases, being non-condensable, are discharged to the atmosphere a I It is among the objects of this invention to provide deaerating apparatus which does not require resteaming and;recondensing of the condensate, which is simple and inexpensive in construction and operation, but highly eflicient, and by which the gases are separated from thecondensate by flotation and then discharged to the atmosphere.

In accordance with this invention a'de'aerating tank is placed betweena receiver or accumulator tank-and the feed vjater pump of a boiler. The

accumulatorcollects condensate returning tethe boiler and is connected to th deaerating tank by means of a normally closed inlet pipe. The

deaeratlngatank is provided with anoutlet for,

gases inwhich there is a check valve. A feed water pump delivers condensate from the deaerating tankto the boiler, and when the inlet and check valves are closed, as they are most of the time, a vacuum iscreatedin the deaerating tank so that gases are readily freed from the condensate therein. As soon as the condensate in the .deaerating tank reachesv apredeterminedlow level the-tankis automatically refllled fiuickly with condensate from the accumulator? This condensate is delivered through'the' normally closed inlet pipe which is opened at that time. The en- 1 tering condensate raises the level of the liquid the zero capacity of condensate to hold oxygen in solution, and the dissolved oxygen is set free.

Deaeration is the process of developingthis con- 7 dition of zero concentration of gases and separating the freed gases from the condensate. Thus,

to deaerate condensate of its dissolved oxygen it a is only necessary to develop a condition of pressure and temperature which will produce a boiling point'and then separate and remove the freed gases. For example, if the condensate is returned at 140 F. and atmospheric pressure the pressure may be reduced'to 24 inches of vacuum or the returning at 140 F.is reheated to the boilin point corresponding to the pressure within the deaerator and the condensate flashed; into steam remainingin the deaerating tank, so, the gases that have been freed are-forced out of the tank through its gas outlet.

The preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1' is a somewhat diagrammatieside view of my deaerating apparatus; and Fig. 2 is an end view of the deaerating tank taken on line 11-11 of Fig.1.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing, condensate returning from boiler steam through pipes I enters the upper portion or an accumulator tank 2 the top of whichis provided with a vent pipe 3. The lower portion of the tank is connected by a pipe 4 to an electrically operated, condensate pump 5. The outlet of the pump is connected through a valve 6 and pipe I to the inlet of a deaerating tank 8 disposed in a horizontal position.

Inletpipe 1 is connected to one end of thetank near its top and extends into the tank where it is perforated to form a spray. The bottom of the deaeratin'g tank is connected by a pipe 9 to a feed water pump l0 below it operated by steam circulating through pipes II. The outletot the pump is connected by a pipe I2 to the inlet of a boiler (not shown). The top of the deaeratin tank is connected by a pipe I3 containing a check valve ll either directly to the atmosphere or to the vent pipe 3 of the accumulator tank. The valve 6 in the deaerating tank inlet pipe I is spring seated and of such construction that' the atmospheric pressure on the condensate in the accumulator tank tends to keep it'seated so that pipe I normally is'closed. However, the

valve is provided with'a diaphragm unit it having the valve side of its diaphragm connected by a pipe H to inlet pipe I of pump 5, and the opposite side of the diaphragm connected by a pipe 18 to the outlet side of the pump. The pressures in t two halves of the diaphragm unit are therefore normally balanced. When the condensate pump is started in operation the pressure that it creates in pipe 18 causes a horizontally movable pin l9 to be pres ed against the protruding valve stem 20 and us opens that valve for the passage of condensate into the rise and fall.- As shown in Fig. 2, one float chamber 26 maybe connected in the gas outlet pipe ll of the deaerating tank for actuation by the condensate after the tank is full, and the other float chamber 21 may be located beside the tank in a side arm pipe 28 connected to the tank and pipe 13'. The lower float switch is actuated by the condensate when it reaches a predetermined low level.

These two-switches are so connected for operating the condensate pump that both must be closed before the pump will start operating and both must be open-in order to stop the pump. A convenient way of accomplishing this is to cause these switches to operate a magnetic relay switch in the power circuit for the pump. Thus,

the upper switch 22 is connected by a wire 3| to a switch contact 32 andby a wire' 33 .to a solenoid coil 34 which is connected to one line 3! of a three-phase, power circuit. The lowerswitch 23 is connected by a wire 36 to wire 3|, and by a wire 31 directly to anotherline 38 of the three-phase circuit and to a contact 39 of the relay. When the upper float switch is closed nothing happens, but when the lower float switch likewise closes a circuit is completed through the two switches and the solenoid coil. The ener-v gized coil draws switch bar 42 to the left. This.

bar carries four pairs of contacts, three pairs of which close the three lines of the power circuit so that pump can start operating. The fourth pair of contacts 43 engage contacts 32 and 39,

' These rise by flotation to the surface and escape to, the space in the tank above the condensate. As the deaerating tank is horizontal, the gases can quickly rise to the surface of the condensate because the distance to be 'traveled by them is short.

As soon as condensate startsto be withdrawn from the deaerating tank by the feed water pump, the upper float switch 22 is closed, but, as previously explained, the operating circuit for the condensate pump relay can not be completed until float switch 23 likewise is closed. This does not happen until the condensate reaches a compensating low level within the deaerating tank. The condensate pump quickly refills the deaerating tank through pipe I so that the condensate in the tank can be held as long as possible under the highest;vacuum. This is important because the important deaerating time is between the end ofa refilling and .the beginning of the next refilling. The longer the time between reflllings, the greater the opportunity for escape of the gases from the condensate. While the condensate is entering the deaerating tank through its inlet, the spraytube in the tank causes the entering condensate to spray out and thus condense any steam vapors. This helps to maintain the vacuum in the deaerating tank while the condensate level is rising therein. As the condensate rises in the deaerating tank the non-condensable gaseswhich have freed themselves from the condensate are forced by it out of the tank to the atmosphere through pipe i3 and valve ll. As soon as the tank is refilled and both float switches have opened, the circuit to the condensate pump is opened and it stops operating. Valve 6 closes immediately, and a vacuumis recreated in the deaerating tank at once by the withdrawal of the condensate therefrom by feed water pump Hi. This cycle is repeated as long as the steam heating system is in operation.

water deaerator comprising an accumulator tank for collecting condensate from thereby shunting the lower switch so that when the lower float switch is again opened the circuit through solenoid coil '34 ispreserved until the upper switch is opened, whereupon bar 42 is moved to the righteby a spring 44 to open the relay and the circuit to the condensate pump.

In operation feed water, pumplfl slowly and constantly withdraws condensate from the bottom of deaerating tank 3 while condensate is continuously returning to accumulator tank 2. As check valve 14 in the gas outlet pipe and inlet valve 6 in the inlet pipe of the deaerating tank normally are closed, the lowering of the conboller steam, a deaerating tank provided with an outlet for gases and with a normally closed condensate inlet communicating with the lower portion of the accumulator tank, a check valve in said outlet, a feed water pump for pumping condensate from the deaerating tank to a boiler whereby a vacuum is created in the deaerating tank and gases are freed from the condensate therein, means for periodically delivering condensate from the accumulator to the'deaeratlng tank through said inlet whereby the gases in the deaerating tank are forced out through said outlet, and mean floatingvonthe condensate in the deaerating tank and operatively connected delivering means for. controlling the-operation oi l.

the latter in accordance with 3 the. lei/eh condensate in the deaerating tank;

2. A boiler feed water deaerator co prising-an otthe accumulator tank for collecting condensate'irom boiler steam, a deaerating tank providedwith outlet for gases and with a normally closed condensate inlet communicating with the accumula: tor 'tank, a check valve in said out1et,a Ieedwater pump for pumping condensate from the deaerating tank to a boiler whereby a vacuumis created in the deaera'ting tank andv gases areireed from;

the condensate therein, a condensate pump for periodically delivering condensate from the ac-- cumulator to the deaerating tank through said inlet whereby the gases in the deaerating tank are a reaches 'a predetermined high level for stopping said condensate pump.

3. A boiler feed waterdeaeratorcomprlsing an accumulator-tank for collecting condensate from boiler steam, a deaerating tank providedwith an outlet for gases and with a normallyclosed condensate inlet communicating with the accumulator tank, a check valve in said outlet, a feed a water pump for pumping condensate from the deaerating tank to a boiler wherebya vacuum is created in the deaerating and gases are freed from the conden te therein, a condensate 'pump for periodically elivering condensate from the accumulator to the deaeratingtank through said inlet whereby the gases in the"deaerating tank are forced out through said outlet, a float switch actuated by the condensate in the decenting tank when it reaches a predetermined low level for starting said condensate pump, and a float switch actuated by the condensate in the deaerating tank when it reaches a predetermined high level for stopping said condensate pump.

4. A boiler feed water deaerator comprising an accumulator tank for collecting condensate from boiler steam, a deaerating tank provided with an outlet for gases and with a normally closed condensate inlet communicating with the accumulator tank, a check valve insaid outlet, a feed water pump for pumping condensate from the deaerating tank to a boiler whereby a vacuum is.

created in the deaerating tank and gases are freed from the condensate therein, means for periodically delivering condensate from the accumulator to the deaerating tank through said inlet whereby the gases in the deaerating tank are forced out through said outlet, the pressure of the condensate being delivered to the deaerating tank causing said inlet to open, and means actuated by the condensate in the deaerating tank when lit reaches a predetermined low level for starting said delivering means in operation.

5. A boiler feed water deaerator comprising an accumulator tank for collecting condensate from boiler steam, a deaeratlng tank provided with an outlet for gases and with an inlet communicating with the accumulator tank, a normally closedvalve in said inlet, a check valve in said outlet, a feed water pump for pumping condensate from the deaerating tank to a boiler whereby a vacuum is created in the deaerating tank and gases are freed from the condensate therein, a condensate pump for periodically pumping condensate from the accumulator to the deaerating tank through said'linletgand means onerably connecting said condensate pumpf 'tosaid inlet valve whereby the 1 "pumppressure opens thatjvalve whenever the v pump jbp a c's accumulator" tank for collecting -condensate irom" boiler steam, a deaeratinjg'tank providedxwith an outlet i'or gases and with an inlet communicating with theaccumulator tank, a normally closed valve said inlet, a 'cheok valve in said outlet, a feed water pump for pumping condensate from v the deae'rating tank to a boiler whereby a vacuum is created in the deaerating tank'and gases are freed fromfthe condensate therein, a condensate pump for periodicallypumping condensate from a the accumulator to the deaeratingtank' through said inlet, a high level float switch and a-low level float switch associated with the deaerating tank for actuation by 'the "condensate therein, electric circuits "connecting said switches with saidlcond'ensate puma and aplurality of electric switches injsaid circuit'actuated by said float switches'when' they"'are .both closed-for startingsaid condensate pump and-for maintaining that pump in operation untilthe high levelfloat switch is opened, a v a I 7 V 7. A boiler feed'water'deaerator comprising an accumulator tank for collecting condensate from boiler steam, a'deaerating tank provided with an outlet for gasesfa check valve insaid outlet, 8.

pumpv having an inlet connectedto "the lower portion ofthe accumulator tank and an outlet connected tothe upper portion of the deaerating tank, a normally closed pressure-operated valve in saidpump 'outletg'adapted to be opened bythe pressure created by the pump, a feed water pump for pumping condensate from the deaerating tankto a boiler, an electric relay operatively connected to said pump, two float-operated electric switches disposed in vertically spaced'relation an'd"respon sive to the level of the condensate in and above the deaerating tank, and. wiring so connecting said switches to said relay that both switches must be closed to start the pump and both must be open tostop the pump. v

8. A boiler feed water deaerator comprising an accumulator tank for collecting condensate from boiler steam, a deaerating tank provided with an outlet for gases, a check valve in said outlet, a pump having an inlet connectd'to the lower portion of the accumulator tank and an outlet connected tothe upper portion of the deaerating tank, a normally closed pressure-operated valve in said pump outlet adapted to be'ope'ned by the pressure created by the pump, a feed water pump for pumping condensate-from the deaerating tank to a boiler, and electric switches actuated by changes in the level of the condensate for starting and stopping the operation of said condensate p mp- 9. A boiler feed water deaerator comprising an accumulator tank forcollecting condensate from boiler steam, said tank having a top outlet to atmosphere, a deaerator tank provided with a top I outlet for gases, a check valve in said outlet, 0. pump having an inlet connected to the lower por-" tion or the accumulator tank and an outlet connected to the upper portion of the deaerator whereby a partialvacuum is created in the tank and gases are ireed from the condensate therein,

6 a, boilerjieed'water 'deaerator' comprising an and float-operated electric means responsive to,

the condensate at two diil erent levels in the deaerator tankfor starting and stopping'said first-mentioned pump. 10. Aboiler feed water deaerator comprising an accumulator tankior collecting condensate from boiler steam, the top of said tank being provided with a vent to the atmosphere, a deaerating tank for holding condensate under vacuum to free it of dissolved and entrained gases, the top of said deaerating tank having a vent to the atmosphere, 9, check-valve in said lastmentioned vent to prevent the entrance of air, a feed water pump for ,withdrawina. condensate from the deaerating tank whereby .a vacuum is created in the tank, a condensatepump and piping for refilling the deaerating tank from the accumulator tank, a spring seated valve in the outlet pipe oithe condensate pump adapted to close withthe flow, a diaphragm unit responsive to water pressure created by operation of the condensate pump for opening said spring seated valve, a float switch actuated by the condensate at a predetermined level for starting thecondensate pump, a float switch actuated by the condensate at a different level for stopping the condensate pump, and electric wiring for connecting the condensate pump and switches to a sourceof electric power.

11. A boiler ieedtwater iromlboiler steam, the top or said tank being provided with a vent to the atmosphere, deaerating tank forv holding condensate under vacuum to free it of dissolved and entrained gases,

, vthe top of said deaerating tank having a vent to the atmosphere, a check valve in said last-mentioned vent to prevent the entrance oiair, a feed water pump for withdrawing condensate from the deaerating tank deaerator comprising an accumulator tank for collecting condensate in the tank, connecting piping for refilling the deaerating tank from the lower portion of the accumulator ,tank, a spring seated valve in the connecting piping installed to close with the flow, a diaphragm unit'responsive to water pressure for opening the spring seated valve, electrically operated means for creating said water pressure,

by the condensate at a difierent level for stopping saidmeans whereby to stop the refilling of the deaerating tank, and electric wiring for connectin: said means and switches to a source of elec- V 'tric power.

12. Liquid deaerating apparatus comprising two tanks, the first tank being adapted to hold a liquid at atmospheric pressure and the second tank adapted to periodically hold portions of said liquid under vacuum for deaerating it of dissolved and entrained gases, the top of said second tank having a gas outlet provided with a check valve, a pump for withdrawing liquid from the second tank to create a vacuum in that tank, connecting piping for refilling the second tank from the first tank, a spring seated valve in said piping for stopping the flow of liquid therethrough, electrically operated water pressure creating means for opening whereby a vacuum is created. so

said spring seated valve, and float switches 

